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Barcelona have suffered a considerable slide in recent years and have seen their fortunes dwindle in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. With the Catalan club also facing a financial crisis at the moment, players like Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho may well find themselves playing at a different club this year.
While many of Barcelona's big names have found themselves on the squad's fringes this past year, a hasty departure would be particularly harsh on Antoine Griezmann. After a difficult start to life in Barcelona, the French World Cup winner has come into his own this year and has shown more than just a few glimpses of his incredible talent.
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Barcelona's financial reality is starting to catch up with them, however, and clearing the club's wage bill is high on Joan Laporta's list of priorities at the moment. Griezmann may well be one of the best players on offer in La Liga but his enormous salary could potentially result in the end of his stint at Barcelona.
With reports of an imminent swap deal with Atletico Madrid doing the rounds, Antoine Griezmann seems to be on his way out of Barcelona. Let's take a look at four players who could step into the Frenchman's shoes at Camp Nou this season.
#4 Alex Collado
Barcelona might seem in a precarious situation at the moment but they can take solace from the fact that Laporta has faced similar issues at the club in the past. The Catalan giants were well on their way to a life of mediocrity in 2007 when they tapped into the ace up their sleeve - La Masia.
Barcelona's famed academy has come to the club's rescue time and time again over the years. Ronald Koeman made good use of La Masia's prospects last year and give another Catalan starlet his opportunity to shine this year.
Alex Collado has grown into a seasoned campaigner as Barcelona B's captain and his maturity and understanding of the team's ethos could make him the ideal replacement for Antoine Griezmann. Barcelona do not have the funds to pull off another high-profile signing and could place their faith in the young La Masia product this season.
#3 Joao Felix
With talks of a swap deal with Atletico Madrid underway, Antoine Griezmann could return to the Spanish capital this summer. Saul Niguez is currently tipped to make the move to Barcelona but reports suggest that talks have stalled over the past week.
Barcelona could do with an additional forward player if Griezmann leaves the club and Joao Felix could be the ideal choice. The Portuguese youngster has not been at his best this year and has fallen down the pecking order at Atletico Madrid.
With Diego Simeone opting to field Angel Correa and Marcos Llorente over Felix, a switch to Barcelona may well work wonders for the dynamic forward. Joao Felix still has plenty to learn in La Liga and a stint under Lionel Messi's wing could make him a force to be reckoned with.
#2 Sergio Aguero
Barcelona have already made a few quick decisions in the transfer market and the acquisition of Sergio Aguero could be pivotal to their fortunes this season. Aguero saw out his contract at Manchester City and will join compatriot Lionel Messi at the Catalan club.
Aguero has not been at his best in the recent past and seems to be approaching the end of what has been an incredible career. The Argentine striker is an established Premier League legend and it is near-impossible to predict the outcome of his return to La Liga.
Sergio Aguero's playing style is a world away from Antoine Griezmann's approach to the game but with Barcelona captain Lionel Messi pulling the strings in the final third, the striker could defy expectations and return to his prolific best. Aguero featured only 12 times in the Premier League last season and has plenty of work to do to prove his skeptics wrong this season.
Sergio Aguero will be expected to match Griezmann's goal tally at Barcelona and faces intense competition for a place in the starting lineup. The former Manchester City man is perfectly capable of holding his own in a high-profile club and his big-game experience should serve him well in La Liga.
#1 Memphis Depay
Ronald Koeman has had a massive influence on Barcelona's approach to La Liga this year and has convinced the new board to bring Memphis Depay to the club. Koeman has worked with the former Manchester United forward in the past and is well aware of his abilities in and around the penalty area.
Depay has blossomed into a talisman for his national team and has been one of the best players in Ligue 1 over the past two years. The Dutch striker has worked on several aspects of his game and has now become a complete forward.
Ronald Koeman will be particularly thrilled with Depay's arrival and knows how to get the best out of the 27-year-old forward. Memphis Depay can play in a variety of attacking roles for Barcelona and his versatility makes him the perfect replacement for Antoine Griezmann.
With 20 goals and 12 assists in Ligue 1 this past season, Depay is at his peak at the moment. With the likes of Messi, Aguero, and Ansu Fati alongside him, the new Barcelona signing could take La Liga by storm in 2021.
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